o 

10 

8 

(0 


GIFT   OF 


A    COMPARATIVE    STUDY    OF    THE    OCCUPATIONS 


AND     WAGES     OF     THE     CHILDREN     OF     WORKING 


AGE     IN     THE     POTTER     AND     DURHAM     SCHOOLS 


PHILADELPHIA 


ling  ft 
litro^dTf'Cdrporatic 


MADE   UNDER  THE  AUSPICES  OF 


THE  ARMSTRONG  ASSOCIATION  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


1913. 


A     COMPARATIVE     STUDY    OF    THE     OCCUPATIONS 

AND     WAGES     OF     THE     CHILDREN     OF     WORKING 

AGE     IN     THE     POTTER     AND     DURHAM     SCHOOLS 

PHILADELPHIA 


1913 


MADE   UNDER   THE   AUSPICES   OE 

THE  ARMSTRONG  ASSOCIATION  OF  PHILADELPHIA 


l\<i> 


FOREWORD. 


About  a  year  ago,  this  Department  of  Superintendence,  anxious 
to  ascertain  the  industrial  outlook  of  the  sttidents  in  our  schools, 
turned  to  the  Armstrong  Association,  of  Philadelphia,  through  its 
secretary,  John  T.  Emlen,  for  a  detailed  investigation  as  to  the  con- 
ditions prevailing  in  the  Durham,  a  typical  school  for  colored  pupils, 
and  in  the  Potter,  a  typical  school  for  white  pupils. 

The  result  of  that  study  is  of  such  far-reaching  consequences 
that  I  thought  it  desirable  to  publish  it,  in  the  hope  that  it  will  lead 
to  the  bettering  of  the  conditions  of  our  pupils  when  they  are 
obliged  to  leave  school  and  seek  employment. 

M.   W.   Brumbaugh, 

Superintendent  of  Schools. 
ApRiiy  14,  1913. 


30S589 


A  STUDY 


MADE  UNDER  THE  AUSPICES  OF 

THE    ARMSTRONG    ASSOCIATION    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


The  study  is  a  comparative  one'  of  the  occupations  and  wages 
of  the  children  of  working  age  in  two  schools  where  the  populations 
of  the  schools  are  in  one  case  largely  Negro  and  the*  other  white, 
but  living  under  similar  environmental  conditions. 

In  the  latter  months  of  the  school  year  1911-1912,  the  naipcs 
of  317  children,  14  years  of  age  and  over,  who  were  scholars  of  the 
Durham  and  Potter  schools,  were -listed,  and  then  investigated! 
This  was  a  complete  list  of  the  children  of  working  age.  in.thfe 
Potter  School  and  of  all  the  Negfo  children  of  workirig^age  jn  the 
Durham  Schpol,  Their  ages  were  as  shown  in  Table  "A,"  and 
iItov  were  graded  as  shown  in  Table  "A-i."  The  percentage  of. 
children  leaving  school  at  diflferent  years  of  age  is  shown  in  "A-2." 

TABLE  "A." 
NuMBi-R  o^  Children  14  Years  of  Age  or  Older,  by  Agel 


Durham. 


14  years 

15  years 

16  years 

17  years 

18  years 
10  years 
30  years 

Total 
Nt 


83 

14 

56 

15 

26 

16 

15 

17 

2 

*.  18 

1 

19 

0 

20 

Potter. 

years  65 

years  54 

years  13 

years 1 

years  . .  y 0 

y^ars  0 

years  1 


1§3 


134 


TABLE  "A"-l. 
TMBKR  OP  Children  14  Years  of  Age  or  Older 
Durham. 


Grade  3 
Grade  4 
Grade  5 
Grade  6 
Grade  7 
Grade  8 
Special 


13 
•19 

48 

25 

20 

0 


Total. 

148 

110 

39 

16 

2 

1 

317 


JLDER. 

BY  Grai 

)E. 

Potter. 

Toti 

5 

13 

0 

J.- 

19 

25 

f 

83 

21 

* 

69 

46 

71 

41 

61 

1 

1 

Total 


183 


134 


317 


TABLE   "A"-2. 

PUKCKNTAGIC   OF    CiHI.DKKN    14    YEARS   OF    AgE   OR   OlDER,  LEAVING    AT    DIFFERENT 

Ages. 

Diirhdm.  Potter. 

14  years  45  o/lO  per  cent.  48  5/10  per  cent. 

15  years  30  6/10  per  cent.  40  3/10  per  cent. 

10  years  14  2/10  per  cent.  9  7/10  per.cent. 

1 T  yerirs  8  2/10  per  cent.  0 

18  years  1  l/lO  per  cent.       0  T/lO  per  cent. 

19  years  0  5/10  per  cent.       0 

20  years  0  0  7/10  per  cent. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  Neirro  children  of  the  Durham  School 
stay  in  school  until  they  are  slightly  older  than  the  children  of  the 
fetter  School.  It  will  also  be  noted,  however,  from  the  following 
table.  "A-3,"  that  the  proportion  of  children  who  reach  the  seventh 
and  eighth  grade  is  much  higher  in  the  Potter  School,  so  that, 
allhongh  the  Durham  School  children  stay  until  they  are  older,  they 
do  not  ^et  nearly  so  far  in  the  school. 


TABLE  "A"-3. 

rK'-CINTAGE  01'  THE  ClIIT.DKTlN  01'   14   >'K\RS  OI*   AGE  OK  Ovi'.R  WHO   MaD 

Reached  Grades  5,  6.  7,  8,  in  June,  1912.* 

Durhjin.  Potter. 

Grade  5.  or  over   82  5/10  per  cent.  100           per  cent. 

Grade  6,  or  over   50  8/10  per  cent.  81  2/10  per  cent. 

Grade  T.  or  over    24  6/10  per  cent.  65  7/10  per  cent. 

Grade   8    or  over    10  9/10  per  cent.  30  S/lO  per  cent. 

*Not  counting  one  case  in  special  class. 

Of  the  183  listed  and  investigated  in  the  Durham  School,  74 
were  boys  and  109  were  girls.  Of  the  134  in  the  Potter  School, 
73  were  boys  and  61  were  girls.  The  following  table,  **B,"  shows 
the  number  of  those  who  returned  to  the  school  and  of  those  who 
were  transferred  or  promoted  to  the  High  or  other  schools.  Table 
*'B"  also  gives  the  proportion  who  do  not  return  to  school.  It  is 
seen  that,  among  both  girls  and  boys,  a  far  larger  proportion 
returned  among  the  Negro- children  than  among  the  white  children. 


Number  of  ( 

TABLE  "B." 

0H11.DREN  OF  14  Years  of  Age  or  ( 
ScHooi,  After  Summer  Vao 

Durham. 

No.  returning  to  school. 

)VER  Wl 
VTION. 

Left 
School 

16 
10 

26 

Left 
School 

36 
26 

62 

10  Returned  to 
Moved    .  Percentage 

Listed 

Boys   74 

Girls   109 

Durham    Trans-          High    Private 
ferred                        School 

47               1               5               1 
82               9               4               0 

129             10               9               1 
,  Potter. 
No.  returning  to  school. 

could     not    return- 
not  find  ing  to  school 
(not  counting 
those  not  found) 
4            22  9/10 
4              9  5/10 

Total  ..  183 

8    Av.  14  9/10 
Moved      Percentage 

Listed 

Boys    ....      73 
Girls    ....      61 

Potter 

26 
24 

50 

Trans- 
ferred 

3 
2 

5 

High  or 
M.  T. 

7 
2 

9 

Bus. 
Col. 

0 
6 

6 

could       not  return- 
not  rind  ing  to  School 
(not  counting 
those  not  found) 
1             50 
1             43  3/10 

Total   .  .   134 

2     Av.  46  9/10 

During  the  early  months  of  the  fall,  and  the  following  months, 
inquiries  were  made,  from  both  the  children  who  had  returned  to 
school  and  those  who  had  not,  as  to  what  they  had  done  since 
leaving  school  at  the  end  of  the  school  year,  about  July  i,  19 12. 
It  was  ascertained  in  each  case  whether  the  work  done  was  summer 
work  or  whether  it  was  taken  later.  As  the  purpose  of  the  investi- 
gation was  in  part  to  discover  the  immediate  plans  in  the  minds 
of  the  children  during  the  summer,  or  the  time  immediately  suc- 
ceeding it,  no  record  of  work  was  taken  after  November  15th. 
Furthermore,  children  who  returned  to  school  in  September,  and 
evidently  had  that  intention  during  the  summer,  were  listed"  as 
"returned,"  even  though  they  left  school  later.  Table  "C"  shows 
how  many  of  the  children  among  those  who  returned,  and  among 
those  who  did  not  return  to  the  school,  did  occupational  work.  The 
table  shows  that  in  cases  of  both  boys  and  girls,  a  larger  percentage 
of  the  children  of  the  Potter  School  than  of  the  Durham  School 
did  work  during  the  summer  or  immediately  after. 


TABLE   "C." 

Number  of  Children  of  14  'Years  g?  Age  or  Over-  who  Worked. 

Durham. 
Returned  to  school  Did  not  return        of  those  an- 

__^ swering    who 

Work    No  work        No  Work        No  work        No        did    work 

answer  answer  duriug     sum- 

mer   or    later 

Boys    .'.. 34  20  0  10  6  4  62  9/10 

Girls    19  75  0  8  3  4  25  7/10 

Total    53  95  0  18  '98  40  6/l0 

Potter, 
Returned  to  school  Did  not  return  of^those^^a^n- 

Work    No  work        N^^  Work        No  work      Not      ^^lJ"^.o7i?*' 

answoi-  found   during     sum- 

mer  or   later 

Boys    21  15  0  33  1  3  77  l/lO 

<^irls    :  .      6  .  28  0  21  5  1  46  6/10 

Total    27  43  0  54-  6  4  03  l/lO 

Referring  to  Table  "D,"  it  is  seen  that  among  the  boys  of  the 
Durham  School  there  is  very  little  difference  in  the  kind  or  pro- 
portionate am.ount  of  work  of  those  returning  and  of  those  not 
returning.  The  same  is  true  of  the  girls.  Among  the  boys  of  the 
Potter  School,  a  large  proportion  of  those  not  returning  have  gone 
into  factories  and  offices  in  contrast  with  the  large  proportion  of 
those  returning  who  became  errand  boys.  Among  the  girls  of  the 
Potter  School,  so  few  of  those  who  returned  did  work  that  no 
attempt  at  comparison  will  be  made. 

Amxjng-the  boys  of  the  Potter  School  the  majority  worked  in 
factories  or  offices,  but  most  of  the  Durham  School  boys  became 
either  errand  boys  or  domestic  servants.  A  few  of  the  Potter 
School  boys  working  in  the  factories  reported  that  they  were  doing 
skilled  work.  Several  others  reported  apprenticeship  in  plumbing 
and  printing.  Among  the  girls,  practically  all  from  the  Potter 
School  went  into  factories,  a  few  into  stores  and  several  appren- 
ticed at  dressmaking  and  millinery.  Among  the  girls  of  the  Dur- 
ham School  practically  all  entered  domestic  service,  but  a  few 
entered  tobacco  factories,  where  they  do  not  receive  such  good 
wages,  but  usually  have  more  freedom. 

8 


BOYS 


TABLE  "D/» 

Occupations  op  Boys  and  Girls  who  Worked. 

Durham. 

Domestic  Errand  Porters    Drivers  News-  Bell  Elevator    Busi-  Miscel- 
Service     Boys  boys    Boys      Boys      ness  laneous 


Not  returning..      152  2  0000 

Returning    9  15  0  1  4  1  1  1 


Total 


10 


20 


BOYS 


Potter. 

Factory      Office  Errands  Plumb-  Miscel-  Print-  News 

Boys                      ing      laneous      ing  boys 

Not  returning   14            9            5            1            3            0  1 

Returning   3            5          10            1            1            1  0 


Total  17  14 

*See  after  Tables  "E"  and  "R" 

•  Durham. 


GIRLS 


Domestic 
Service 


Not    returning    7 

Returning  14 


15 


Factory      Errand      Social      Music 
Tobacco         Girls      Service 
Stripper 

10  0  0 

2  111 


Total 


.  .    21 
Potter. 


GIRLS 


Factory        Stores      Domestic      Dress-  Mllli- 

maliing  nery 

Not  Returning  14                3                1                2  1 

Returning 5                0                1                0  0 

Total   19                 3                 2                 2  1 


In  the  table  "E"  is  noted  in  detail  the  occupations,  ages,  grades, 
length  of  service  and  wages  of  the  children  of  the  Durham  School. 
Separate  divisions  of  the  table  are  made  for  girls  and  boys,  and  for 
those  returning  and  not  returning.  Table  "F,"  with  the  subdivi- 
sions, makes  similar  record  for  the  children  of  the  Potter  School. 


TABLE  "E." 

Girls  who  Worked  but  Did  Not  Return  to  School. 

Durham. 

Afii"    Grade       Kind  of   work  Length  of  service      Wage  per  week* 

Domestic    15       5     Child's  nurse.  Since  fall.           $2  and  board. 

Domestic    15      6     General  housework.  1  month.             $2  and  board. 

Domestic    15       6     Works  in  mother's 

cafe.  All  summer.       Board  &  lodg. 

Domestic    IG      6     Waitress  in  private 

boarding   house.  2  months.           $3  and  board. 

Domestic    1()      0     Waitress  in  mother's 

cafe.  All  summer..      Board  &  lodg. 

Domestic    16      6     Chambermaid       i  n 

boarding  house.  4  weeks.             $4,    board    and 

lodging. 

Domestic    16       7     Asbury  Park  Hotel 

chambermaid.  2   months.           $4.50,  board  and 

lodging. 
Tobacco  strip- 
per    17       6     Tobacco  stripper.  All  summer.       $2  to  $3,  $3  to 

$4,  then  $4  to 
$5. 

*The  wages  are  per  week  except  when  otherwise  stated. 

TABLE  '%''— Continued. 

Girls  who  Worked  and  Returned  to  School. 

Durham. 

Age    Grade       Kind  of  work  Lengtb    of    service    Wage    per    week 

Domestic    14      3     Dishwashing  in  pri- 
vate family.  2  months.            $2.50  &  board. 

Domestic    14      5     General  housework.  7  weeks.             $2  and  board. 

Domestic    14      6     Housework.  1  week.                $2  and  board. 

Domestic    14       J     Dishvsasher.  1  week.                $2  and  board. 

Domestic    14       7     Crcneral  housework.  1  week.               $2.50  &  board. 

Domestic    15      6     General  housework.  3  weeks.              $3  and  board. 

Domestic    15       6     v'strub  steps.  2  months.            $2. 

Domestic    15       7     Nurse.  1  month.             $2  :»0  &  board. 

Domestic    15       8     General  housework.  2  weeks.              $1.50  &  board. 

Domestic    16      8     Chambermaid,     pri- 
vate family.  6  weeks.              $2  and  board. 

Domestic    16      6     General  housework.  1  month.             $3  and  board. 

Domestic    17      6     Child's   nurse.  2  months.            $2  and  board. 

Domestic 17       6     General  housework.  All  summer.      $2.50  &  board. 

Domestic   17       8     General  housework.  2   weeks.             $2.50  &  board. 

Tobacco  strip- 
per     J..  15       0     Tobacco   stripper.  1   month.             $2  to  $2..:o. 

Tobacco  strip- 
per    15      T)     Tobacco  stripper.  3  weeks.             $1.50. 

Errand    15       5     Errand  girl,  millin- 
ery store.  1  week.                $2.50. 

Social    service.   .17      7     Charge   of   sewing 

at  playground.  2  months.            $4.50. 

Musician    16       8     Played    piano    in 

hotel.  2  months.            $5. 

10  ■ 


TABLE  "E''— Continued. 
Boys  who  Worked  but  Did  Not  Return  to  Schooi.. 
Durham. 
Age    Grade       Kind  of  work  Length   of   service    Wage   per   week 

Errand  boy  and 

domestic  14      4     Cleaner  and  errand 

boy,  drug  store.      2  months.  $3.50. 

Errand  boy  ....14      4     Errand   boy,   meat 

market.  Started  work 

September.     $2.50. 

Errand  boy 14      4     Errand   boy,   meat 

market.  Since  summer 

(early).  $3. 

Errand  boy  ....14      5    Errand  boy,  grocery.  Summer  and 

early  fall.        $3. 
Errand  boy  ....  15      5     Errand   boy,  meat 

market.  5  weeks.  $4. 
Porter    and    do- 
mestic    14       5     Necktie    factory, 

cleaner  &  Porter.    All  summer.      $3. 
Porter    and    er- 
rand   14      5     Porter    and    errand 

in  machine  shop.  $4. 

Driver   14      G     Drive    wagon    for 

paperhanger.  3  months.  $3. 
Drver    and    do- 
mestic    14      5     Cleaner   and   driver 

for  paperhanger.  $3. 

Domestic    14      4     Worked    in   private 

family,     general 

housework.  2  months.  $1.75  &  board. 


11 


Errand  boy 

Errand  boy 

Errand  boy 
Errand  bov 


TABLE  ''^"—Continued. 

BOVS    WHO    WORKKD    AND    RETURNED    TO    SCHOOL. 

Durham. 

Age    Grade        Kind  of  work  Length    uf    service    Wage    per    week 

..14       3     Carried    orders    for 

huckster.  2  months.  $1.50. 

..14       3     Worked      with     ice 

dealer,  serving  ice.  2  months.  $2.75. 

..14 
.  .14 


Errand    and    do- 
mestic    14 


Errand  boy  14 

Errand  boy  and 

domestic 14 

Errand  boy  and 

domestic    15 


Errand  boy   ....  15 

Errand    and   do- 
mestic  .......  15 

Errand    15 

Errand    15 

Errand   15 

Errand   and  do- 
mestic     15 

Errand    14 

Domestic   and 
porter    14 

Domestic    15 

Domestic    15 


Domestic    16 


Domestic 


16 


Domestic  and 

errand     16 

Domestic 16 

Domestic    and 

errand    17 


5 

Meat  market. 

All  summer. 

$4. 

5 

Drng  store. 

Not  every  day 

.  75c     per    day 

when  wanted, 

3    or    4    days 

per     week ; 

also     $1     per 

week     for 

papers. 

Cleaner  and  errand 

5 

b  o  y.     boarding 

house. 

1 

month. 

$3.50  &  board. 

6 

Afeat  market. 

3 

weeks. 

$2.50. 

() 

Grocery  store. 

2 

months. 

$3.50. 

4 

Errand    boy    and 
cleaner   in   tailor 

shop. 

3 

months. 

$2. 

4 

Delivered  orders, 

oyster  saloon. 

2 

months. 

$1.50  &  board. 

5 

General  helper, 

drug  store. 

2  months. 

$4.50. 

5 

Grocery  store. 

3 

months. 

$4.50. 

7 

Printing     establish- 

ment. 

2 

months. 

$4. 

7 

Office. 

2 

months. 

$3. 

5 

Errand  and  cleaner 

in  drug  store. 

2 

months. 

$3. 

5 

Grocery  store. 

2 

months. 

$3.50. 

8 

Cleaner  and  porter, 

dry  goods  store. 

.  3 

months. 

$3.50. 

6 

Dishwasher,  restau- 

rant. 

1 

month. 

$3. 

6 

Cleaner    on    private 
yacht   (mother 
cook). 

2  months.  $i? 
and  board. 

4 

Waiter    and    helper 
at   Atlantic  City 

hotel. 

2 

nK)nths. 

$25  mo.Mth  and 
board. 

4 

Washed     dishes    in 

boarding  house. 

2 

months. 

$3  and  board. 

7 

Cleaner,  drug  store 

Few  weeks. 

$4. 

8 

Pantry  man,  hotel. 

2 

months. 

$4.50  &  board. 

Cleaner  and  errand 
b  o  y  in  grocery 
store.  3  months. 

12 


$4.50. 


$3.50. 


$1.25. 
$1.25. 


Age    Grade       Kind  of  work  Length    of    service    Wage    per   week 

Domestic  and 

errand  16      8    Cleaner  and  errand 

boy,  printing  es- 
tablishment. S  months. 
News  and  do- 
mestic   14      4     Served    papers   and 

scrubbed  steps.        2  months. 

News    14      5     Sold  papers.  All  summer. 

News  and  er- 
rand     .15       5     Sold  papers  and 

carried  clothes.       All  summer. 

News    .15       5     Sold  papers   for 

news  store.  All  summer. 

Driver   16      8     Bus  man,  clothing 

store.  7  weeks. 

Bell  boy 14      5     Boarding  house.  Short  time. 

Business  14      G     Bought  and  sold  ice 

for  self.  All  summer. 

Elevator  15      7     Elevator  boy,   de- 
partment store.       i  months. 
Miscellaneous  . .  14      6     Labels  on  whiskey 

bottles.  3  months. 

Miscellaneous  ..16      8     Private  chair  pusher, 

Atlantic  City.  3  months. 

TABLE  "F." 
Girls  who  Worked  but  Did  Not  Return  to  Sc 
Potter. 

Age    Grade       Kind  of  work  Length    of    service 

Factory  14       8     Learn  factory  work.    4  weeks. 

Factory  14      8     Mending  lace.  5  weeks. 

Factory  14       5     Cutter.  Since  July  2. 

Factory  14       7     Turner-in.  Sinde  July* 

Factory  ...  .14      5     Fits  tubes.  There  now. 

Factory  14      8     Cutter.  Since  Aug.  1. 

Factory  14       8     Burler.  Since  Aug.  1. 

Factory  15       8  .  Factory  winder.  3  weeks. 

Store   ;..14       8     Count   books   in 

store.  Since  Oct.  7. 

Store   14       7     Stock  girl.  11  weeks. 

Store    15       8     Inspector  in  glove 

department.  Since  SepL  27, 

Dressmaker   15      7     Learner.  Since  Oct.  8. 

Dressmaker    ....15       7     Learner.  4  weeks. 

Mill'nery 14       5     Learner.  4  weeks. 

Factory  14       7     Works   in    counter, 

checking  and  tie- 

ing  lace  in  bun- 
dles. S  nee  Sept.  19. 

Factory  14      6     Examiner   (hosiery).  Since  June. 

factory  14       5     Gets  out  trimming 

(hats).  Since  June. 

Factory 14      7     Raveler  (hosiery). 

Factory   14       G     Winder     dress 

goods.  6  weeks — still 

there. 

Factory    16       5     Soinner  (carpets).       4i/^    months. 

Domestic    14      7     Restaurant.      Her 

father      asked 

them     to     teach 

her  and  need  not 

pay  her,  2   weeks. 

13 


$2. 


$3. 

$1  and  board. 

Do  not  know. 

$7. 

$4.50. 

$3.50. 

:hool. 

Wasre    per    week 

$3.50. 

$5. 

$1.25,  $1.75. 

$4. 

$4. 

$4. 

$3.50. 

$3.35. 

$3. 
$3.50. 

$4; 
$1. 

$L 
$L 


$3.50,   $4. 

$4. 

$4. 

$4. 


$5.50. 
$4.50. 


None. 


TABLE  "'P"— Continued. 
Girls  who  Worked  and  Returned  to  School. 


Potter. 


Factory    14 


Age    Grade        Kind  of  work 


7    Was    learning    to 
finish     in    lace 


Length    of    service    Wage   per    week 


factory. 

2  weeks. 

$3    first    week; 
$3.50  2d  wk. 

Factory    .... 

14 

5 

Took  bobbins  off. 

10  weeks. 

$5. 

Factory   

14 

6 

Sweeper    (under- 

wear factory.) 

9  weeks. 

$4. 

Factory   .... 

15 

8 

Folder   in   mending 
room    (lace    fac- 

tory). 

2  weeks. 

$3.50. 

Factory    

....15 

8 

Carrying. 

12  weeks. 

$5. 

Domestic    . . 

....15 

7 

Store. 

2  weeks. 

$4.50, 

TABLE  "F"— Continued. 
Boys  who  Worked  but  Did  Not  Return  to  School. 


Potter. 

Age 

Grade       Kind  of  work               ] 

Lengtb    of    service 

Wage   : 

Factory  .. . . 

14 

5 

Works    on    sizing 

machine. 

Still  there. 

$5. 

Factory 

14 

7 

Helper  in  weaving. 

2  months. 

$4. 

Factory 

14 

5 

Factor}'       work 
(creeler). 

Sept.  3  until 
Nov. 

$5. 

Factory  ... , 

14 

8 

Working  in  carpet. 

Left  Oct.  19. 

$5. 

Factory 

14 

8 

Office  boy  in  carpet 
factory. 

August— there 
now. 

S4. 

Factory 

14 

8 

Porter  in  under- 
wear factory. 

June  26  until 
Nov. 

$4.50. 

Factory 

14 

5 

Stripper   in   lace 
factory. 

June  26—  still 

there. 

S4. 

Factory  — 

14 

7 

Rail  setter. 

Sept.  30. 

f5. 

Factory 

14 

8 

Waste  porter. 

June— still 
there. 

$5. 

Factory  ..  . , 

15 

5 

Turner-in. 

July— still 
there. 

$4. 

Factory  ..  . 

15 

7 

First  worked  on  lace. 
Second,    brassing 
up     warps,    next 

1^  months. 

$4. 

paper  mill. 

3  weeks. 

$3. 

Factory  ... 

15 

7 

Helper  at  skilled 

trade. 

3  months. 

$3. 

Factory  .. . 

15 

8 

Waste    work     (un- 

derwear factory). 

Aug.  1-Nov. 

$4. 

Factory  . . . 

14 

7 

Office  boy,  oils. 

July— still 
there. 

$3.50. 

Factory  . .  .  . 

....  14 

5 

Office  boy,  printing. 

5   months. 

$3.50. 

14 


Age    Grade       Kind  of  work  Length    of    service    Wage    per   week 

Factory 14      8    Office  boy.  Sept.  3— still 

there.  $5. 

Factory 14      8    Office  boy.  2  months.  $3. 

Factory 14      8    Office  boy.  July  15  to  Nov.  $5. 

Factory 15      6    Folding    letters    in 

printing    depart- 
ment. Oct  15 — still 

there.  $3.50. 

Office 15      6    Office  boy.  Oct.  29— there 

now.  $4. 

Office 15      8    Office  boy,  dye  wks.    Aug. — there 

now.  $3.50. 

Office 15      8     Office  boy.  2  weeks.  $3.50. 

Newsboy    15      7     Newsboy.  Still  at  work.   $3.50. 

Errands    14      6     Errand     b  o  y     in 

factory.  June — still 

there.  $3. 

Errands   14      5     Printing  shop.  Sept.  30  to 

Nov.  $3.50. 

Errands    15      7     Drugstore.  1^  months.       $3.50. 

Errands    15      7     Messenger  in  store.     Sept.  19— still 

there.  $2.50. 

Errands    14      5     Order  boy  in  store.     4  weeks.  $4. 

Plumbing 16      7     Helps  plumber.  $3.50. 

Miscellaneous  ..16      8    Amusement  park, 

for  uncle.  2  months. 

All  summer.       Spending 
money. 
Miscellaneous  , .  15      6     Pack   ice  cream 

freezer.  April,   1912 — 

still  there.      $5. 
Miscellaneous  ..14      7     Pasting  labels  on  ice 

cream  freezer.        3  months.  $5. 

Factory 16      8     Helper     in     leather 

novelties,      for 

father  and  uncle.    Since  July.         Spending 

money. 


15 


TABLE  "l^"— Continued. 
Boys  who  Worked  and  Rkturned  to  School 

Potter. 


A}H'    (irado        Kind   of   work 

Kactorv  14       8     Wrapper,  dress 

goods. 

Fnclory  14       8     Brassing  up  warps. 

Factorv 16       7     Helper  to  shipping 

clerk. 
Errand  boy  ....14       7     Store  (father's). 

ICrrand  boy  ....14       7     Store  .  (.uncle's). 

iuTand  boy  ....14       ')     Laundry. 

Errand  boy 14       6     Skilled   trade." 

Errand  boy  ....14       7     Store. 

^•'rrand  boy  ....14       o     Factory.  - 
Errand  boy  . . .  .  lo       8     Store. 

Errand  b  )y   ....15       8     Store. 
Erjand  boy  ....15       8     Grocery  store. 

Errand  boy  ..,.15    '   5     Store. 

Office  boy    14  7  Oils. 

Office  boy   14  7  Badges. 

Office  boy    14  8  Shipping  department. 

Offi'-e  boy    15  8  Upholstery. 

Office  boy    16  8  Buttons. 

Plumber  15  8  Plumber. 

M-'scellancous   ..15  -8  Pick   up  rings  at 

carrousel. 

Printer     16  8  Skilled  work. 


Lcns,'th    of    service    VV:igt>    |.oi-    wccli 

2  months.  $5. 

S  weeks.  $4. 


10  weeks. 

$4. 

.A.11  summer. 

Spending 

money. 

All  summer 

(Saturdays)  . 

$2  dax'. 

n  weeks  (Sat- 

urdays). 

$1  day. 

2  or  3  weeks.- 

$4. 

/  11  summer  on 

Saturdays. 

$1.50  day 

7  weeks. 

?3.uO. 

G   weeks    (on 

Saturdays). 

$1  day. 

2  months. 

$5. 

All  summer  on 

Saturdays. 

$1.50   day 

All  summer 

(for  5  yrs.) 

$2.50. 

5  wrecks. 

$3.50. 

2   weeks. 

$3.50 

7   weeks. 

$4. 

2   months. 

$3. 

All  summer. 

$3.50. 

All  summer. 

$3. 

All  summer. 

$4. 

2  months. 

$4. 

*Many  "errand  boys,"  of  course,  do  other  work  in  the  stores  in  which 
they  are  employed  or  do  some  domestic  service.  On  the  other  hand,  some 
who  are  listed  otherwise  run  errands.  In  this  study  those  are  listed  as  "er- 
rand boys"  who  stated  that  they  were  employed  entirely  or  chiefly  in  that 
capacity. 

It  will  be  noted  that,  among  the  boys  at  the  Durham  School, 
the  wages  of  those  returning  and  of  those  not  returning  are  quite 
similar.  Their  wages  arc  also  quite  similar  to  those  of  the  boys 
returning,  and  not  returning  of  the  Potter  School. 


16 


In  cases  where  boys  or  girls  enter  domestic  service,  an  allow- 
ance being  made  of  $3  for  board  and  $5  for  board  and  lodging,  the 
wage  usually  totals  more  than  in  other  cases.*  Boys  selling  papers 
usually  receive  about  the  least.  Among  the  Potter  School  boys, 
quite  a  number  worked  on  Saturdays  only.  Among  the  girls,  when 
the  allowance  of  $3  for  board  and  $5  for  board  and  lodging  is  made, 
the  Durham  School  girls  did  much  better  than  the  Potter  School 
girls.  It  may  also  be  noted  that,  among  the  Durham  School  girls, 
the  large  number  entering  domestic  service  has  made  their  wages 
higher  than  those  of  the  boys.  Among  the  children  of  the  Potter 
School,  a  number  have  apparently  deliberately  taken  low  wages  for 
the  sake  of  the  apprenticeship  they  were  receiving. 


Age 

14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 


14 
15 
16 

17 
18 
19 
20 


TABLE   "G." 
Average  Wage  of  Workers  by  Age. 
BOYS  GIRLS 

Durham. 

Returning     Not  returning    Returning.     Not    returning 
No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No. 

14     $3.29       9     $3.31       5     $5.20     ..       23 

12       3.71       1       4.00       7       3.36       3     $5.00     13 

7       5.21      3'      5.33       4       7.37       7 

1       4.50      4       5.12       1       3.50       1 


TOTAL 


Boys  Girls 

Av  wage  No.Av  wage 

$3.30       5     $5.20 

3.73     10       3.85 

5.21       7       6.50 

4.50       5       4.80 


Potter. 


11  $3.20  18 
7  286  12 
3       4.50       3 


$4.28 
3.63 
3.50 


$4.08 
4.33 


16 
4 
1 


$3.42 
2.34 
4.50 


29 

19 

6 


$3.87 
3.35 
4.00 


19  $3.53 
7  3.19 
1       4.50 


*The  question  of  allowance  of  $3  for  board  and  $5  for  board  and  lodging 
was  finally  decided  after  careful  consultation  with  a  number  of  the  best- 
informed  individuals.  It  was  considered  fair  by  practi'^ally  all  of  these.  A 
few  of  the  girls  and  boys  would  be  able  to  secure  board  and  lodging  at  cheaper 
rates  and  would  consider  the  figures  high.  But  the  figures  quoted  seemed  the 
fairest. 


IT 


The  above  table,  "G,"  graphically  shows  the  relative  wages  for 
different  ages  of  boys  and  girls  returning  and  not  returning  to  the 
Potter  and  Durham  schools. 

TABLE  "H." 
Average  Wage  of  Workers  by  Grade. 
Durham. 
BOYS  GIRLS  TOTAL 

G-rade  >       Returning    Not  returning    Keturniug.  Not    returning  Boys  Girls 

No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No.  Av  wage  No.Av  wage 

3d   2  $2.13      1     $5.50     2  $2.13  1     $5.50 

4th 5  4.46  4     $3.44     9  4.01      

5th   10  3.47  5       3.40  3       4.16       1     $5.00  15  3.45  4       4.62 

6th    7  4.33  1       3.00  8       4.19       6       5.83  8  4.16  14       4.89 

7th   4  4.50     4       5.13       1       9.50  4  4.50  5       6.00 

8th   6  4.25      3       5.00     6  4.25  3       5.00 

Total  number 
&   av.    wages    34     $3.98     10     $3.37     19     $4.58     8     $6.18     44     $3.84     27     $5.09 

Potter. 

3d 

4th 

5th   3     $2.50       7     $4.14       1     $5.00       5     $3.00     10     $3.64       6     $3.33 

6th    1       4.00       4       3.87       1       4.00       2       4.75       5       3.89       3       4.50 

7th 6       2  90     10       3.75       2       4.00       7       2.50     16       3.43       9       2.83 

8th    11       3.64     12       4.25       2       4.25       7       3.77     23       3.91       9       3.88 

Total   number 
&  av.  wages  21     $3.28     33     $4.03       6     $4.25     21     $3.25     54     $3.72     27     $3.47 

Table  "H"  graphically  shows  the  comparison  by  grade  instead 
of  by  age.  It  also  shows  the  relative  wages  of  boys  and  girls  in 
^he  two  schools.  Durham  School  boys,  i6  years  of  age,  have 
received  a  high  average  wage  on  account  of  the  large  number  ir. 
domestic  service.  Durham  girls,  15  years  of  age,  not  returning, 
average  low  on  account  of  a  number  of  tobacco  strippers.  Durham 
girls,  16  years  of  age,  not  returning,  average  high  on  account  of 
the  number  in  domestic  service.  Potter  boys,  15  years,  returning 
and  girls  14  and  15  years  of  age,  not  returning,  have  low  average 


IS 


wages.  The  boys  are  low  because  of  the  large  number  that  worked 
on  Saturdays  only ;  the  girls,  on  account  of  the  number  of  appren- 
ticeships. 

Durham  girls,  sixth  grade,  not  returning,  are  high  on  account 
of  the  number  in  domestic  service.  Potter  girls  in  the  seventh 
grade,  not  returning,  are  low  on  account  of  the  apprenticeship. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  age  does  not  seem,  according  to  the 
tables,  to  make  very  much  difference  in  the  wages  received,  because 
a  certain  number  of  cases  in  an  age  or  grade  where  individuals 
happen  to  be  in  domestic  service  raise  the  average — while  cases  ol 
apprenticeship  and  employment  on  Saturdays  only  lower  the  aver- 
age. Even  when  looking  over  the  individual  cases,  however,  very 
little,  if  any,  advance  is  noted  in  advancing  ages  and  grades.  This 
is  probably  due  to  the  comparatively  small  amount  of  skill  required 
In  these  lines  of  work. 

The  Durham  School  girls  receive,  when  allowance  is  made  for 
board  and  lodging,  higher  wages  than  the  Potter  girls.  The  wages 
of  the  boys  of  the  two  schools  are,  in  the  aggregate,  about  the  same. 
The  wages  of  the  Potter  School  boys  and  girls  are  about  the  same. 
The  wages  of  the  Durham  girls  much  exceed  those  of  the  wages 
of  the  Durham  boys. 

As  the  study  was  made  especially  in  the  interests  of  the  Xegro 
children,  and  that  there  might  be  a  basis  of  comparison  iij  a  group 
under  similar  environment,  no  study  has  been  made  to  ascertain 
the  possibility  of  promotion  in  the  occupations  entered  by  the  Potter 
School  children.  It  is  plainly  evident,  however,  that,  except  ir. 
domestic  service,  there  is  practically  no  possibility  for  prom.otion 
among  the  occupations  entered  by  the  Durham  School  children. 
The  occupation  of  errand  boy  is  a  "blind  alley"  occupation. 


19 


ill  summary,  wc  note: 

J^lr^i — While  the  children  of  the  Durham  School  stay  in  school 
longer  than  those  of  the  Potter  School,  they  do  not,  before  leaving, 
advance  to  as  high  a  grade. 

Second — Not  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  Durham  School  chil- 
dren work  during  or  immediately  follow^ing  the  summer  months. 

7  liird — The  Durham  boys  become  principally  errand  boys  and 
domestics,  'i  he  Durham  girls  become  domestics.  The  Potter  girls 
usually  enter  factories.  The  boys  usually  enter  factories  or  offices, 
except  m  cases  where  they  are  expecting  to  return  to  school,  and 
tnen  they  more  often  become  errand  boys.  There  is  practically  no 
increase  in  wage  in  advancing  ages  and  grades  in  either  school. 

Fourth — The  Durham  girls  receive  higher  wages  (when  board 
and  lodgmg  is  included)  dian  the  Potter  girls.  The  Durham  boys, 
a^out  the  same  as  the  Potter  boys.  The  wages  of  Potter  boys  and 
girls  arc  about  the  same.  The  wages  of  the  Durham  girls  are 
higiier  ti.an  those  of  the  Durham  boys. 

fifth — The  field  of  work  for  the  Durham  boys  and  girls  is 
more  limited  than  for  the  Potter  boys  and  girls. 

On  account  of  the  above  study,  we  strongly  recommend  for 
the  Xegro  l)oys  and  girls  that : 

1.  Search  be  made  for  new  lines  of  occupational  which  furnish 
tlic  bjst  opportunity  for  boys  and  girls,  especially  boys. 

2.  That  opportunities  along  these  lines  be  secured. 

3.  That  some  educational  preparation  be  given  to  the  boys  and 
girls,  especially  the  boys,  in  the  vocational  scheme  of  the  city. 

We  make  these  recommendations  to  the  end  that  the  boys  and 
girls  may  be  more  efficient  in  these  lines  in  which  they  are  working, 
and  that  they  may  be  prepared  for  efficiency  in  some  other  lines 
than  the  few  to  which  thev  are  now  limited. 


20 


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